Automatic liquid-flow regulator.



W. F. TRAUDT.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID FLOW REGULATOR. APPLICATION FILED AUGJB, 1914.

1 ,279,6 1 3. Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

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AUTOMATIC LIQUID FLOW REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28.!914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

iIlIIx Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

WILLIAM F. TRAUDT, or RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID-FLOW REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. aa, we.

Application filed August 28, 1914. Serial No. 859,107.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. TRAUDT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Rutherford, county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Liquid-Flow Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for controlling the flow ofliquids and comprises devices for producing ormaintaining automatically a uniform rate of flow of a liquid 2'. e. the delivery of a constant volume thereof per unit of time, independently of varia-' tions of pressure at the source of flow, or at the delivery point, or of other changes in the load on the pump. To this end the invention consists primarily of a self-acting throttling device by which a body of liquid flowing through a conduit automatically, by its own velocity, adjusts a throttle 3 valve, or other controlling device, so that a uniform rate of flow results. This may be accomplished by throttling the flow of liquid itself, or by varying the supply of energy to the pump producing said flow. In addition. to and in connection with this primary feature, my invention also includes special improved means of great sensitiveness in action for thus automatically throttling or otherwise regulating the energy supplied to the pumpv and so avoidin unnecessary waste thereof. The present invention, while not in anywise limited in its application, is specially adapted for use in the process of brewing, in which the beer, contained in vats or tanks, is drawn therefrom by means of a pump and delivered to one or more filters, which operate at the greatest efiiciency when the supply of liquid is constant and of uniform volume. As the containin vats or tanks are ordinarily located on different floor levels, the load on the pump changes from time to time as the supply is drawn from difierent levels, this causing the material variation in the rate of supply to the filters unless some means of regulation are employed. This difficulty, I find, is entirely overcome by the employment of my improved flow regulator in connection with such a system.

The accompanying drawings will serve to illustrate several forms of apparatus suitable for carrying my invention into effect, which are the best forms at present known to me. I wish it understood, however, that I do not limit myself to either the exact .in the brewing process.

of the energy for the pump delivering such liquid supply, may be effected.

Fig. 3 shows a further modification of such apparatus,

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same, and

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section on line 6--6 of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, 1, represents a pump. The pump, as shown,

into a. conduit 5, inlet to which is provided by way of ports 6, 6. Controlling the inlet orts 6, 6, there is a balanced throttle valve the stem 8 of which carries a. perforated diaphragm 9, fast thereon. The diaphragm has a series of perforations 10, formed in it and is mounted in' one of the enlarged end sections 11, 11, of the conduit 5, the mid-section 12, of which is somewhat reduced in diameter. That portion 13, of the valve stem extending beyond the diaphragm serves as a piston rod,which is adapted to telescope into a pocket or tubular extension 14, from the conduit, and press against a spring 15, seated therein. The tension of the spring 15, is adjustable by turning the hand wheel 16, of an adjusting screw 17. An index, represented by the yoke and ring 18, serves as a guide in setting the hand wheel for various rates of flow.

Outlet from the conduit is by way of a pipe 19, controlled by a valve 20, and leading through suitable connections, to one or more receptacles or receiving vessels, such for example as filters or vats of the type employed The operation of the apparatus, thus far described, is as follows: On starting the pump 1, beer or other liquid drawn from one or more of the vats, tanks or other suitable sources of liquid supply, is forced into the conduit 5, to which there is free entrance by way of the inlet ports for the first 'is arranged to discharge through a pipe 4,

we ave,

rush of liquid, the spring 15, tending to maintain the valve 7', Wide open, While the conduit is empty. The expansion of spring 15, is limited only by the striking of diaphragm 9, against the shoulder of smallerconduit section 12. The liquid entering the conduit 5, finds its only outlet through the perforations 10, in the diaphragm 9, and, discharging through such perforations, exerts more or less pressure on the diaphragm depending upon the velocity of the liquid. passing through.

As the velocity increases, the increased. pressure on the yielding member, the perfo rated diaphragm 9, in the path of the current, tei'ids to move said yielding member forward, compressing spring 15, and gradu ally closes the throttle valve '2', until the throttling action of said valve prevents fun c #1 1" mg pump pressure. ll hereafter the parts remain in suhstanti i determined by the adjustment of spring 15, if the load on the o in is decreased, as by ther increase of velo it ilorv at the exist- .i.., I y

equilioiium and tie rate of flow is hels uniformly at a degree the supply connec ion being shifted from one to hioon and the li n is to imp discharge pipe which tends incharge, the initial irough cone iit r slightly LilOTWfil "tie valv-- its 1 are in p e 45,

-ined quantity l :he reduced open-- and the uniform e(inversely,

- is increase hy shifthack the lower nine down action C phragin. 1 18 valve, and inu, so that the lower 'aeiiver the uniform "Pond through the rottle valve 7.

to pressure can of liquid opening or 'ords the tin a vnriahle (lead 1 a dried. Q

in 3 action of valve 7, ce which is always work to be done by the mher acted on by 5, antomatimlly to the use load, so t C o be don 4n}; constant, duei'itl QOilSi'tlnl', and

different levels. The rate of flow can be ad justed, Within. the limits of the pumps capacity, by varying the tension of spring 15.

As a means of facilitating the regulation of the flow and at the same time economizing in the consumption of steam or other form of energy consumed by the pump, l have illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, an improved regulating device for the steam throttle valve 23, in the steam supply pipe 4:6, of the pump.

is shown, the valve 23, preferably of the balanced type, has stem 24:, connected with the flexible diaphragm :25, of the dificr: ential regulator l2. pivoted lever 26, carrying an adjustable Weight 27, atone end, has its oaposite end 28, forked to coo erate in the usual manner with the valve m, to draw the valve away from its seat and open the inlet for the admission of steam to the steam cylinder of the pump Opposing this action of the Weighted lever, there is a liquid pressure connection shown in the form of a pipe 529, extending from the discharge pipe of the pump to the preschamb'er iormed at the left hand side of l diaphragm, or the si e opposite that to hie WLllCil the st .ain valve stem is attached. l

co, the connections 29, st

n r overcome the ig'ht, which wouir overcome the waist- ..rlilrcrence conduit i ii i 1., "1 iii women an.

e amel of liquid through the throttle valve 7. With the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, however, this increased pressure in pipe 4, is transmitted through pipe 29, to diaphragm 25, forcing it to the right against the constant pressure in pipe 30, and that of the weighted lever system 26, 27, 28. This partially closes steam throttle valve 23,. and cuts down the consumption of steam. This tends to slow the pump, and the initial decrease in velocity of delivered liquid again acts on the flow regulator to reopen liquid throttle valve 7, and reduce the difference between the pressureson the two sides of the valve. Soon a condition of equilibrium is reached, determined largely by the position of weight 27, on lever arm 26, and the apparatus then continues delivering the predetermined volume of liquid per unit of time through the opened throttle 7, with the least consumption of steam necessary to do theuseful work required, the dead resistance of liquid throttling at valve 7, having been eliminated, and no more energy being consumed in overcoming this internal resistance. If, on the other hand, the reduction in load on the pump results from the point of delivery of the liquid being shifted to a lower level, or to other causes creating a lower pressure in conduit 5, this reduction in pressure is transmitted through pipe 30, to the pressure chamber on the right hand side of diaphragm 25, and the same partial closure of steam throttle 23, results. When the load is increased for any reason, the reverse of the above described operations, or of one of them occurs, and the supply of steam is increased to the extent necessary to maintain a uniform rate of flow of the delivery.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated diflerent forms of connecting mechanism for transmitting motion from the perforated diaphragm, or other yielding member to a throttle valve, which ma be either the liquid throttle valve or t e steam throttle valve 45, of the pipe 47, leading to the pump represented diagrammatically by the rectangle 44.

. As shown, the device comprises the same form of movable, perforated diaphragm 31, having perforations 32, therein, and mounted in an enlarged seFtion of the conduit 33. The piston rod 34, extending through a stuffing box 35, is suitably connected at 36, with a lever 37, pivoted at 38, and carrying an adjustable Weight 39. Lever 37 is connected by link 40, to handle 41, of the steam throttle.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the device will be a parent. Any increase in the discharge flow rom the pump developing sufiicient increase of velocity in conduit 33, to move the perforated diaphragm 31, will result m such movement being transmitted through the lever connections described, to rotate the steam valve and cut down the amount of energy delivered to the pump. Similarly, if the rectangle 44, be assumed to represent merely a conduit 0r pipe connecting pipe 47, with conduit 33, and the liquid to be delivered at a uniform rate flows through these pipes and conduits from some source of supply, not shown, the apparatus illustrated would then operate valve 45, as a liquid throttle, and regulate the flow of liquid at a uniform rate, as before described.

In Figs. 3 to 5, a further modification -is illustrated in which a rotatable perforated disk or dia hragm is substituted for the perforated iaphragm having a motion of translation, previously described.

In this form, a disk 48, is mounted fast on a rotatable shaft 49, in an enlarged section 50, of the conduit 33, and has perforations 51, therein inclined or cut at an angle to the line of flow of the liquid. The shaft 49, turns on com bearings 52, 52, one of which is located interiorly and the other exteriorly of the conduit. Yieldingly opposing any rotation of the disk which would be given it in one direction bythe flow of the liquid, there is a spring 53% acting against the short arm 54, of a lever 55, fast on the disk shaft, the tension of the spring being adjustable by means of a set screw 56 mounted in housing 59 and bearing on cup 60, which serves as a point of support for one end of spring 53. Connection from the long arm of the lever, as indicated by the rod 57, may be made in anysuitable manner with a steam throttle valve, liquid throttle valve, rheostat or other device to be governed, so as to regulate the flow of liquid in any of the ways hereinbefore. described.

The principle of operation of the form last described does not differ from that of the other forms, the only changebeing in structure, which results in giving the yielding member of the regulator rotary instead of reciprocating motion.

Among the many important advantages of my invention, attention is called to its compact and simple form, the sensitive, automatic regulation of the discharge of liquid, and the automatic regulation of the energy consumed by the pump, so as to avoid any waste thereof.

As I have stated above, structural chan es can be made in the several features isclosed without departing from the underlying principle of my invention. Other devices suitable for checking the flow of liquid and controlling the valve might be employed as a substitute for the perforated diaphragm shown. Valves of various types could be used .and governed by other yielding means than a diaphragm interposed in .41 emma the line of flow of the liquid, but all such changes it consider merely modifications of my invention and have not, therefore, illustrated or described the same in detail.

Having, therefore, described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a conduit, a pump having its discharge port connected to said conduit, a balanced throttle valve controlling the connection between the pump and the conduit, and means located in the conduit tending to close said throttle valve when the velocity of flow therethrough increases, and to open the valve wider when the velocity decreases, together with mechanism for controlling the supply of energy to the pump and a differential regulator for said mechanism connected to the conduit nd to the connection between pump and throttle valve.

2., The combination of a conduit, a pump having its discharge port connected to said conduit, a balanced throttle valve controlthe connection between the pump and l and means located in the contending to close said throttle valve when the velocity of flow therethrough increases, and to open the valve Wider when the velocity decreases, together with mechanism for controlling the supply of energy to said pump, a pressure chamber, a flexible diaphragm therein, a connection from said diaphragm to said mechanism, and a pipe from the pressure chamber to the connection between the pump and the throttle valve.

3. The combination of a conduit, a steam pump having its discharge pipe connected to said conduit, a balanced throttle valve controlling the connection between said discharge pipe and the conduit, means located in the conduit adapted to regulate the closing of said throttle valve proportionally to the velocity of flow in the conduit, a

throttle valve in the steam pipe to the pump, and a difierential regulator coat-t nected to said steam throttle, to the conduit and to the pump discharge pipe.

WLLIAM F. 'lltAUlDT, Witnesses:

Lawnnnon l /ioMAHoN,

(Ct. Cnewronn. 

